Choice of Context Step 1: I chose American Football as my context.
I designed every drill and activity to address specific social behavioral challenges, such as, going beyond one’s comfort zone (BEHAVIOR and HABIT are closely linked, work on the HABITS internalize the BEHAVIORS), tardiness, lack of self-management, vision, resilience, self-control, discipline, focus, and the ability to distinguish between punishment and discipline. I also focused on translating skillset into mindset and addressing behaviors relevant to real-life scenarios. Football builds and reveals character, but true growth requires a deliberately structured environment. The bottom line is that without intentionally manipulating the environment, there will be no meaningful improvement or ingrained desired outcomes – an argument that the different leagues doing community projects throughout the country has yet to be introduced to.
In the mid-90s, I introduced my innovative approach to Danish American Football through The Volunteers football program—years before my work in prisons and criminal justice reform concepts. The difference between the youngsters in my program and those in other junior football programs across Denmark was undeniable. Referees were amazed by what they witnessed on my sideline – it was football, but then again NOT. The results spoke volumes. It wasn’t just the five years of subsistence during which we won a senior First Division title with a rookie team (later recognized as the all-time greatest rookie team). It wasn’t that Danish football was inherently weak. It was the deliberate preparation, discipline, and intentional design that built that legendary team.
I then shifted focus to juniors, The Volunteers youth were recruited from municipalities west of Copenhagen, areas facing significant socioeconomic challenges. We set records, winning four consecutive junior national titles—an unmatched feat. By the fourth, I had left for the Middle East, yet the team won without coaches, showcasing maturity, leadership and independence. Decades later, I can proudly say that 98% of those young men have gone on to become accomplished members of their communities. The goal was for them to learn, create opportunities, avoid distractions, and UNDERSTAND that life isn’t four twelve-minute quarters but four quarters of twenty years. Success is a process designed to improve not an end goal – KEEP COMPOUNDING. This social experiment opened doors for me, leading to my induction into the Danish American Football Hall of Fame and an invitation to speak at the 1997 Sports Psychology Conference at Copenhagen University.
Most inmates are conditioned into believing that freedom comes after a sentence. It is my supposition that, if not educated, they will never learn that a sentence should be followed by a period. Full stop!
